Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

There was a discussion about this issue at the Business Committee and there was a demand for a debate. It should not be presented as something other than this. There continues to be a demand for a debate on the issue. It is not something the Government - a minority Government - can present as a fait accompli. At the very least, we need to debate the issue.

I add that the treatment of Ibrahim Halawa has been outrageous, rather than merely "disappointing" as the Minister suggested earlier. In that context, we endorse the points made about trade and the need to bring the Australian experience to bear.

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